a study of different combination regimens including jnj-73763989 and/or jnj-56136379 for the treatment of chronic hepatitis b virus infection

Conditions: Hepatitis B, Chronic

Summary: the purpose of this study is to establish the dose-response relationship for antiviral activity of 3 dose levels of jnj-73763989+nucleos(t)ide analog (na) and to evaluate the efficacy of combination regimens of jnj-73763989+na (with and without jnj-56136379) and of jnj-56136379+na.

hepatitis b virus (hbv) is a small deoxyribonucleic acid virus that specifically infects the human liver. the acute phase of infection is either followed by an immune controlled state or progresses to chronic hepatitis b. the worldwide estimated prevalence of chronic hbv infection is about 292 million people affected. hepatitis b surface antigen (hbsag) seroclearance is currently considered to be associated with the most thorough suppression of hbv replication (termed functional cure). with current available na treatment strategies, rate of hbsag seroclearance remains very low (around 3 percent \[%\]) even under long-term treatment. also, with the persistently high global prevalence of hbv-associated mortality, there is a medical need for more effective finite treatment options that lead to sustained hbsag seroclearance. jnj-73763989 is a liver-targeted antiviral therapeutic for subcutaneous injection designed to treat chronic hbv infection via ribonucleic acid interference mechanism. jnj-56136379 is an orally administered capsid assembly modulator that is being developed for the treatment of chronic hbv infection. the aim of the study is to evaluate efficacy as measured by proportion of participants who completed 48-week study intervention and qualified for stopping na treatment at week 48. the study includes: screening phase (4 weeks), double-blind study intervention phase (from day 1 up to week 48), and follow-up phase (48 weeks after end of investigational intervention with a maximum duration of 96 weeks). the duration of individual study participation will be between 100 and 150 weeks. safety and tolerability (including adverse events \[aes\] and serious aes, laboratory assessments, electrocardiogram \[ecg\], vital signs, physical examination), efficacy (including hbsag seroclearance), and pharmacokinetics will be assessed throughout the study.

Eligibility criteria:
inclusion criteria: * medically stable based on physical examination, medical history, vital signs, electrocardiogram (ecg) at screening * chronic hepatitis b virus (hbv) infection with documentation at least 6 months prior to screening * hepatitis b surface antigen (hbsag) greater than (\>) 100 international units per milliliter (iu/ml) at screening * body mass index (bmi) between 18.0 and 35.0 kilogram per meter square (kg/m\^2), extremes included * highly effective contraceptive measures in place for female participants of childbearing potential or male participants with female partners of childbearing potential * liver fibrosis stage 0-2 (metavir) or fibroscan less than (\<) 9 kilopascal (kpa) at screening exclusion criteria: * evidence of infection with hepatitis a, c, d or e virus infection or evidence of human immunodeficiency, virus type 1 (hiv-1) or hiv-2 infection at screening * history or evidence of clinical signs/symptoms of hepatic decompensation including but not limited to: portal hypertension, ascites, hepatic encephalopathy, esophageal varices or any laboratory abnormalities indicating a reduced liver function as defined in the protocol * evidence of liver disease of non-hbv etiology * signs of hepatocellular carcinoma (hcc) * significant laboratory abnormalities as defined in the protocol at screening * participants with a history of malignancy within 5 years before screening * abnormal sinus rhythm or ecg parameters at screening as defined in the protocol * history of or current cardiac arrhythmia or history or clinical evidence of significant or unstable cardiac disease * participants with any current or previous illness for which, in the opinion of the investigator and/or sponsor, participation would not be in the best interest of the participant * history of or current clinically significant skin disease or drug rash * participants with known allergies, hypersensitivity, or intolerance to jnj-3989 and jnj 6379 or their excipients or excipients of the placebo content * contraindications to the use of entecavir (etv), tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (tdf), or tenofovir alafenamide (taf) per local prescribing information * participants who have taken any therapies disallowed per protocol * female participants who are pregnant, or breast-feeding, or planning to become pregnant while enrolled in this study or within 90 days after the last dose of study intervention * male participants who plan to father a child while enrolled * participants who had or planned major surgery, (example, requiring general anesthesia) or who have received an organ transplant * vulnerable participants (example, incarcerated individuals, individuals under a legal protection measure)